Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley, Ron Powers
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Book Reviews of Flags of Our Fathers
Book Review: Flags of our Fathers Review
Summary: 5 Stars
Flags of our Fathers is about the six flag raisers of Iowa Jima and why they went through on the island. The author of this book James Bradley happens to be related to one of the flag raisers, Jack Bradley. Jack Bradley originally joined the navy to avoid getting drafted by the army so that he wouldn't have to fight. He went into the medical field and was then assigned to be a corpsman which was the opposite of what he wanted because it meant he would have to fight and drag the wounded off the field. Each of the flag raisers had their unique personalities. Franklin Sousley was known for his good humor and his laughter, Jack Bradley was raised by a very Christian family and that had a lot affect on his life it even followed him when he joined the navy. Harlon Block also started as a big Christian and a pacifist, but when he entered high school he joined the football team and he was a very good player. Ira Hayes was an Indian he was also a very quiet person who kept to himself and he also fell into a bad habit of drinking after he returned from Iowa Jima. Rene Gagnon is a very hard person to find out about because most of the people that remembered him just said that he was a nice guy. Mike Strank is my favorite because he was a natural born leader, a genius, and he had the loyalty and respect of all the soldiers under him he was even considered to be like a big brother to them. Unfortunately only three of the flag raisers lived after the battle of Iowa Jima they were Jack Bradley, Rene Gagnon, and Ira Hayes. This is the kind of book I would recommend for those types of people who like war stories and it is one of the best books I have read.Book Review: Heroism Unveiled. Haunting. Inspiring. Historical.
Summary: 5 Stars
FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS is a testimonial to the courage, valor, and bravery of a bunch of young American boys, welded together by the US Marine Corps, fighting against a vicious enemy. As stirring as that is, FLAGS is more; it is a testament to the human condition and the American experience in the middle of the last century.
We live in an age and culture that has confused celebrities with heroes. Professional sports players and rock stars are idolized, mistaken for those whose character, sacrifices, and love has set them apart in nobler pursuits. The Marines at Iwo Jima knew the difference; they were true heroes. As chance would have it, six of them would also become celebrities, some of them unwillingly.
In the annals of WWII, the costliest piece of real estate would be Iwo Jima, claiming American casualties of the 26,000 soldiers who defeated 26,000 Japanese. There is no greater love than laying down one's life for another. The Marines of WWII knew a lot about love. Time and time again, Bradley reaffirms that these young soldiers were willing to sacrifice themselves, not for their country, but for their buddies. And those most haunted, were those who most acutely experienced leaving so many buddies behind to the dead and dying.
This is a haunting, fast-paced, moving story of one of the most misunderstood battles in history. It is patriotic in the sense that it tells of the blood and guts of real sacrifice in a patriotic pursuit; to protect and defend those that these soldiers loved. Most of all, FLAGS is real, honest, and historical.
Book Review: The Long Shadow of War
Summary: 5 Stars
Simply put, this is historical narrative writing at it's best.This terrific book tells the story of the six flag raisers in Joe Rosenthal's iconic Pulitzer-Prize winning photograph from Iwo Jima.The author James Bradley is the son of flag raiser John Bradley.Bradley shows how the men in the photograph were a cross section of small town America at the time.He clearly demonstrates how their fate tied into the larger story of Iwo Jima.Three of the six men were killed shortly after the photo was taken in the brutal fighting on the island.The battle scenes are unforgettable.But, this is more then a war story, this is a story of honor,horror, fame and it's price and the impact of war that goes on long after the shooting is over.It is a story of good and honest men catapulted into a terrible situation and how they dealt with it.Clearly the amazing characters were much more then just figures in one of the wars most memorable pictures.The opening when the Bradley family visits Iwo and the conclusion when the author remembers his dad and his reluctance to be called a hero along with his wanting to not talk about the war are enough to put a lump in the throat of Scrooge.This is realistic praise of the greatest generation.It shows their strengths and their flaws and it makes me miss my father even more.You will remember this book long after you are done reading. That generation had it's problems like we all do, but it faced incredible horror with a strength of character that this book captures.Book Review: Flags of Our Fathers Book Review
Summary: 5 Stars
Flags of Our Fathers
Take a journey back in time to uncover the story behind the six men that raised the flag over Iwo Jima in the epic photograph that inspired millions. In this spellbinding novel written by James Bradley, you will come to love the six brave, young marines that risked their lives for our country. This book tells the horrifying truth of not just what happened on Iwo Jima during WWII, but everything that happened during the Pacific War. Flags of Our Fathers starts off telling the childhood stories of the honorable men, and the story follows them throughout their entire life. Page after page grips onto you, not letting you escape. You will know all six men's' life story, Harlon Block, the football player, Jack Bradley, the mortitioner, Ira Hayes, the Pima Indian, Franklin Sousley, the farm boy, Mike Strank, the immigrant from Czechoslovakia, and Rene Gagnon, the factory worker. Flags of Our Fathers will move you. You will laugh, cry, and be horrified, but you will still be addicted to this book. James Bradley's heart felt story was the number one New York Times best seller. After reading Flags of Our Fathers, every book you read will not even come close to being as magnificent.
Book Review: The Men Behind the Flag Raising
Summary: 5 Stars
A wonderfully well written true story, "Flag of our Fathers" is based on the careful and passionate research of an inquisitive `Flag Raiser's' son -James Bradley. The author pays homage to his father and the other Flag Raisers on Iwo Jima. Exploring the Iwo veterans military and personal lives before, during, and after WWII leaves the reader with a more intimate and complete picture of their lives. We learn that these "ordinary men" viewed themselves not as heroes, but rather men who provided a service and allegiance to one another during a time of need. Their humility and respect was to the men whom they served with, and the title "hero" was reserved for those soldiers on Iwo who paid the ultimate sacrifice - death.
This work paints a clear and honest interpretation of the character, struggles, and triumphs of the Flag Raisers and corrects the historical inaccuracies, mainly those portrayed by the media, which have surrounded them for decades.
This is an important piece of literature for both lay readers, military veterans, historians, and all those who have an interest in the Pacific campaign. It is a great page turner and a remarkable piece of non-fiction.